Illegal immigration in the United States reached an unprecedented 14 million in 2023, according to a recent report by the Pew Research Center. This surge represents a stark increase from 11.8 million in 2022 and eclipses the previous record of 12.2 million set in 2007. The number climbed further under Biden’s immigration policies, only beginning to decline in 2025 when Trump returned to office, although total figures still remained over 14 million. States such as California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois have the largest concentrations of illegal immigrants, with Texas quickly approaching California in numbers.
The implications of this influx are significant. In 2023, Pew estimated that roughly 9.7 million of these individuals were part of the U.S. workforce, constituting about 5.6% of all workers. States like Nevada, Florida, New Jersey, and Texas recorded the highest proportions of illegal workers. These figures shed light on the broader economic impact of illegal immigration, which is staggering.
According to a study by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the gross annual cost of illegal immigration has escalated to $182 billion. Notably, taxes paid by illegal immigrants cover only about 17.2% of these costs. This leaves American taxpayers with a hefty net burden of $150.7 billion each year—equating to $8,776 annually for each illegal immigrant or child born to illegal immigrants. On an individual taxpayer basis, the cost settles at $1,156 per year, or $957 when accounting for taxes collected from illegal aliens. This financial strain has intensified; costs rose by 30% in just five years, up from a previous estimate of $116 billion by FAIR in 2017.
The local effects of illegal immigration become starkly apparent in law enforcement statistics. For instance, in Los Angeles County, 95% of outstanding homicide warrants are issued for illegal aliens. Furthermore, a study from the Center for Immigration Studies, funded by the Justice Department, disclosed that between 25% and 50% of gang members arrested in northern and western Virginia were removable aliens, most of whom were residing in the country illegally. The criminal justice costs alone, driven by this demographic, amount to an estimated $47 billion annually, excluding damages incurred by victims.
Healthcare costs associated with illegal immigration further escalate the burden on taxpayers. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported that emergency services for undocumented aliens cost $7 billion in fiscal 2021 and $5.4 billion in 2022. Moreover, migrants received at least $8 billion in improper Medicaid payouts, adding another layer of fiscal strain.
Beyond direct financial costs, illegal immigration adversely affects American workers through wage suppression. Research from Harvard economist George Borjas indicates that the negative impacts of immigration predominantly fall on native workers who lack a high school diploma. This demographic, while small, represents some of the most economically vulnerable segments of society. Borjas’ analyses suggest that as much as one-third of a 10-percentage-point drop in the relative wage of high school dropouts during the late 1980s can be attributed to an influx of less-skilled immigrants. His overarching findings indicate that wages for existing workers fell by approximately 3.2% in the short term, though the effects softened over time.
The educational and criminal justice system also bears the burden of illegal immigration, further straining taxpayer resources. FAIR highlights that during the 2021–2022 school year, around 5.1 million public school students, about 6.5% of the total, were children of migrants. This influx places additional pressure on already underfunded school districts, which must absorb increased costs for language services and resources.
The criminal justice system continues to grapple with its share of expenses linked to illegal immigration. U.S. Border Patrol data showcase regular arrests of criminal aliens—individuals convicted of crimes either in the U.S. or abroad. Over the past decade, approximately 816,000 criminal aliens were deported from the United States. Yet, the Center for Immigration Studies indicates this figure may underrepresent the situation, as prosecutors sometimes dismiss charges against non-citizens when ICE signals an imminent deportation, leaving the crime unpunished but the issue unresolved.
Some argue that illegal immigrants contribute positively to society, questioning what harm they do. The evidence tells a different story. The costs in education and criminal justice, coupled with wage suppression for American workers, paint a clear picture. These obligations extend well beyond mere fiscal transfers and government benefits, revealing the broad impacts illegal immigration has on American taxpayers.
"*" indicates required fields
